Department
of Accounting and Information Systems
frequently asked questions (FAqs)
Master of Science in Accountancy
The Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) is a one-year program designed to prepare students for successful careers in the field of accounting. Our students complete a rigorous program that develops their technical knowledge, ethical decision-making ability, communication competence, and research and critical thinking skills. Students specialize in either Professional Accountancy or Information Systems
The MSA is offered nights/weekends and is designed to be completed within one year. Students are admitted into a cohort (usually no more than 35 students). Cohorted-students will complete three classes per semester. Enrollment is guaranteed for every class, and the class schedule is set for the entire program. In comparison with other programs composed of part-time students, the cohort model increases retention and graduation rates among working adults. New cohorts will be admitted each fall.
Who
is this program for?
1. Students
currently enrolled in the CSUN undergraduate BS in Accountancy program who need
to comply with the 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure.
2. Students
who already have an undergraduate accounting degree from another university but
have not yet taken the CPA exam and need to comply with the 150-hour
requirement.
3 Other
students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in accounting and
wish to earn a master’s degree in accountancy and who wish to either work in industry
or eventually enroll in a PhD program.
Students with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than
accountancy or business administration with a concentration in accounting are
required to complete 15 units of accounting and 24 units of business prerequisites
before an application to the MSA program will be considered.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon
completion of the MSA, our graduates will be able to:
· Apply discipline-specific
knowledge and skills in the field of accounting. This learning outcome includes a working knowledge of accounting for
external financial reporting, managerial applications, attest and assurance, as
well as an understanding of the strategic role of accounting and financial
information systems in business and society.
· Recognize and analyze ethical issues in accounting and
business; select and defend a course of action.
· Effectively communicate
complex accounting and business concepts both orally and in writing.
· Apply critical thinking skills
when analyzing and solving structured as well as unstructured problems.
· Understand international
accounting standards.
· Research
professional/academic literature and databases to analyze complex accounting
issues and prepare for life-long learning in the field.
Applicants
must meet the graduate admission requirements of university as listed in the
Graduate Studies, Research, and International Programs section of the CSUN catalog (http://www.csun.edu/grip/graduatestudies/admissions.html). In addition, applicants must meet
the following departmental criteria:
1. For CSUN
BS in Accountancy students / graduates
-
Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
-
Accounting GPA of 3.0 or higher
-
GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 units
2. For students / graduates from other programs / institutions
-
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
-
Be in good academic standing with last college or university attended
-
Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
-
Accounting GPA of 3.0 or higher
-
GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 units
-
GMAT (or GRE) required. (The overall GMAT (or GRE) score must be in 50th
percentile or higher.)
- For applicants who earned a
bachelor’s degree at a school where English was not the principal language of
instruction, the minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of
79 (Internet-based)/ 213 (computer-based)/ 550 (paper-based) is required.
1.
Accounting Prerequisites (15 units: Five courses. The GPA from these courses should be at least
3.0)
a. Six units of Intermediate Accounting (ACCT 351 and ACCT 352 or
equivalents)
b. Cost Accounting (ACCT 380 or equivalent)
c. Auditing Principles (ACCT 460 or equivalent)
d. Taxation (ACCT 440 or equivalent)
2. Business Prerequisites
(24 units: 12 units from the following 4 courses plus 12 units from other business
areas. GPA from these Business Prerequisites should be at least 3.0)
a. Information Systems for
Business (IS 312 or equivalent)
b. Business Law (BLAW 280
or equivalent)
c. Financial Management
(FIN 303 or equivalent)
d. Business Statistics (SOM 120 or equivalent)
To earn the
M.S. in Accountancy, candidates must complete the 30 semester units coursework as described below:
Core
(Required) Courses (18 units):
These six courses provide the students
with an in-depth knowledge in key areas in the field of accountancy. Each
course integrates into its curriculum and pedagogy written communication
skills, research skills, and critical thinking skills. Some courses also
integrate analytical review, oral communication skills, as well as, ethics and
professional responsibility.
Students must take all of the following six courses:
ACCT 611 Ethics
and Communications for Accounting Professionals 3
Units
ACCT 615 Contemporary
Issues in Accounting
3 Units
ACCT 624 Advanced
Auditing Seminar
3
Units
ACCT 626 Managerial
Cost Accounting Seminar
3
Units
ACCT 628 Financial
Statement Analysis and Valuation
3
Units
IS 630 Accounting
Information Systems
3
Units
Areas of
Concentration (9 Units)
Students may choose either one of the two concentrations (Professional Accountancy or Information Systems)
Students electing the Professional Accountancy concentration must complete at least 9 units from the following courses:
Professional Accountancy
Concentration (9 Units)
ACCT 542 Introduction
to federal tax procedure
3 Units
ACCT 620 Income Tax
concepts & Their Business Applications 3
Units
ACCT 632 Accounting
Issues in Select Industries 3
Units
ACCT 634 Forensic
Accounting
3
Units
ACCT 636 Accounting
for Governmental and Non-Profit Entities 3
Units
ACCT 692A-Z Selected
Topics in Accounting
3
Units
Students concentrating on the Information Systems must complete at least 9 units from the following: Information
Systems Concentration (9 Units)
IS 655 Information Systems Theory
and Practices 3
Units
IS 656 Information Systems Audit
3
Units
IS 657 Information Systems
Governance and Risk Management 3
Units
IS 692A-Z Selected Topics in Information
Systems
3
Units
Culminating
Experience (3 Units)
As
part of their required culminating experience, students have the option of
participating in either a Graduate Thesis or a Graduate Project.
ACCT 698C Graduate
Thesis
3
Units
ACCT 698D Graduate Project
3 Units
Total Units
30 Units
Students
pursuing a Graduate Degree at CSUN must maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) average in
the formal program and the cumulative grade point average. No grade below a “C”
can be counted in the formal program. Any grade of “C-” or below in the formal
program must be repeated after an approved course repeat form has been filed.
Students will be disqualified from the program if they (a) do not receive a “C”
or better on the 2nd attempt, or (b) fail to maintain a 3.0 average for the
first 15 units attempted.
A
student disqualified for academic reasons may apply for readmission to the
program no earlier than six months following his/her disqualification. Requests
for readmission will be denied unless the student can demonstrate that the
reasons for the previous unsatisfactory work have been rectified and he/she
shows evidence of ability to perform satisfactorily in the program. A maximum
of 6 units in the formal program may be repeated at the graduate level. The
repeat grade will appear on the transcript.
The
Master of Science in Accountancy is designed to be completed within one year.
Students, who for some reason are not able to maintain pace with their cohort,
must complete requirements for the degree within 5 calendar years from the date
of admission.
ACCT 542. Introduction to Federal Tax Procedure (3)
Prerequisite: ACCT 440
Taxation of Business Entities and Indivuals or
equivalent.
This
course provides students with an introduction to the procedural aspects of
dealing with the Internal Revenue Service. The course will introduce the
students to, among other things, the organization of the IRS, investigative
authority of the IRS, tax audits, administrative penalties, administrative
appeals, tax collection, federal tax crimes, refund claims, examination of
returns, ethics in the practice of tax, tax practitioner privileges, and
statute of limitation and assessments. This course provides the students with
the opportunity to apply the materials learned in the course through clinical
exercises in the community.
ACCT 611. Ethics and Communications for Accounting
Professionals (3)
Prerequisite: ENGL 205 Business Communication or equivalent. Explores ethics in
the accounting profession. Emphasizes theories of ethics and their
applications; the California State Board of Accountancy's rules of ethics; the
AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct; implications of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
and ethical conditions required by the Securities Exchange Commission. Through
a series of cases, students develop their oral and written communication
skills. Focus is on developing a functional approach to professional
communication. Presents strategies for researching, organizing, analyzing, and
presenting information in an accounting context.
ACCT 615. Contemporary Issues in Accounting (3)
Prerequisites: ACCT 352 and ACCT 460
or equivalents. Examines contemporary
issues confronting accountants, businesses and their stakeholders. Topics such as accounting theory,
basic research methodology in accounting, issues in SEC reporting, segment
reporting, and issues in international accounting will be examined. This course
will be offered as a graduate level class for students who pursue a
professional career in accounting. Students are expected to achieve a deep
understanding of selected contemporary issues in accounting, and have developed
an ability to critically analyze these issues within the theoretical framework
developed in the course. Students are expected to be familiar with concepts of
theory development, theories of accounting policy choice, the measurement of
income, and the societal use of accounting information.
ACCT 624. Advanced Auditing Seminar (3)
Prerequisites:
ACCT 352 and ACCT 460 or equivalents. Auditing theory and practices; auditing
standards; SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and stock exchange
regulations; auditor’s legal liability; statement trends and techniques. Concepts and principles governing independent
professional services that provide assurance on the reliability and relevance
of information, including financial statement information.
ACCT 626. Managerial Cost Accounting Seminar (3)
Prerequisite:
ACCT 380 or equivalent. Focuses on how cost management
information helps managers to make tactical and strategic decisions for profit
planning and control. Emphasizes
the topics of cost and management accounting that help firms compete more
effectively.
ACCT 628. Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation
(3)
Prerequisites: ACCT 352
and ACCT 460 or equivalents. First exposes students to a comprehensive financial
statement analysis and valuation framework that integrates strategy, financial
reporting, and financial analysis / valuation.
Then students use this framework and tools to do fundamental financial
statement analysis. Topics include
models of shareholder value, comparison of accounting and cash flow approaches
to valuation, and the analysis of profitability, growth and value generation in
firms.
ACCT 632. Accounting Issues in Select Industries (3)
Prerequisites:
ACCT 611, ACCT 615, and IS 630. Examines financial
accounting and reporting issues in select industries. The specific topics covered will
depend on the industries selected for a particular semester. Regardless of
specific industry, the course will contain a section addressing ethical issues
in accounting for the industry.
ACCT 634. Forensic Accounting (3)
Prerequisites:
ACCT 611, ACCT 615, and IS 630. Explores the conduct of fraud
examinations, including a discussion of specific procedures used in forensic
accounting examinations and the reasoning behind these procedures. Topics include an overview of fraud and
abuse, forensic evidence, substantive procedures for cash outflow
irregularities, substantive procedures for other assets irregularities,
financial statement fraud, fraud examination reporting, and the role of the
accountant in litigation.
ACCT 636. Accounting for Governmental and Non-Profit
Entities (3)
Prerequisites: ACCT 611,
ACCT 615, and IS 630. Provides
comprehensive coverage of the budgeting, accounting and financial reporting for
governmental and not-for-profit entities. Covers the specialized accounting,
reporting and auditing requirements applicable to governmental and
not-for-profit organizations, performance evaluation, and related ethical
issues. Topics include the
governmental accounting, fund allocation, government-wide reporting,
governmental performance measures, and not-for-profit accounting.
ACCT 692A-Z.
Selected Topics in Accounting (3)
Prerequisites:
ACCT 611, ACCT 615, and IS 630. The exploration of a topic currently
being debated by the accounting profession or the study of accountancy through
alternative means (e.g., systems theory, language and communication,
literature/film). Topics to be specified in the Schedule of Classes. Different
topics may be taken for credit.
ACCT 698C. Graduate Thesis (3)
Prerequisites:
ACCT 611, ACCT 615, and IS 630. Approval of department chair or designee. A culminating experience course in the
M.S. in Accountancy program.
Preparing and writing a Master's thesis under supervision of
a faculty thesis advisor.
ACCT 698D. Graduate Project (3)
Prerequisites:
ACCT 611, ACCT 615, and IS 630. Approval of department chair or designee. A culminating experience course in the
M.S. in Accountancy program.
Planning and performing a graduate level project under supervision of a faculty
advisor.
IS 630. Accounting Information Systems (3)
Prerequisite:
IS 312, ACCT 352, and ACCT 460, or equivalents. Provides
an understanding of requirements, design, and control of major business
processes / accounting cycles integrated in an enterprise system. Topics include
Systems Analysis and Design methodologies and techniques for Accounting
Information System development, issues in control and audit of systems fraud
and abuse, and controls for systems reliability.
IS 655. Information Systems Theory and Practice (3)
Prerequisite: IS 628 or
IS 630. Comprehensive coverage of
current trends and management issues associated with information systems (IS) to
deliver business value within organizations at local, national, and global
levels. Topics include issues in information systems planning, administration,
resource management, and new information technology (IT) adoption to achieve the alignment between IT/IS and corporate functions.
IS 656. Information Systems Audit and Control (3)
Prerequisite:
IS 628 or IS 630. Examines concepts, standards, and
frameworks associated with IS auditing. Topics include the post-Sarbanes Oxley
IS audit environment, assessment of risks and controls, computer fraud, legal
and ethical issues, and audit of the systems development process. Students work
through audit simulations to develop IS audit expertise
IS 657. IS Governance and Risk Management (3)
Provides an overview
of information systems (IS) governance and information risk management. The course stresses the
importance of the alignment of IS governance to business objectives and the
role of IS in achievement of organizational strategy. Topics discussed
include contemporary compliance initiatives; strategic IS decision making; IS
performance assessment, control structure and accountability; IS project
management; IS policy definition and enforcement; risk analysis and mitigation;
and IS security management (i.e., security planning, policy, and controls).
Established frameworks and standards for IS governance and control are
discussed.
IS 692A-Z.
Selected Topics in Information Systems (3)
Prerequisite:
IS 628 or IS 630. The
exploration of a topic currently being debated by the information systems
profession or the study of information systems through alternative means (e.g.,
cognitive science, language and communication, literature/film). Topics to be
specified in the Schedule of Classes. Different topics may be taken for
credit.
.
For Further Information
To access the university catalog, please visit http://www.csun.edu/catalog/.
For more information regarding curriculum content, admission and the application
procedure for the Graduate Program, please contact the director of the MSA at msaccountancy@csun.edu
or visit the Accounting and Information Systems Department office (JH 3123)
located in the College of Business & Economics building (Juniper Hall).
Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs):
Q:
Will the MSA be accredited?
A: All programs offered through
California State University, Northridge are regionally accredited by the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). CSUN business programs meet
the rigorous standards for specialized accreditation by the Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). December 2010, AACSB formally
renewed CSUN’s business accreditation. The Master of Science in Accountancy has
been designed to meet AACSB accreditation standards and will be reviewed during
the next site visit, scheduled in 2015.
Q: Is the program cohort-based?
If so, how often will new cohorts be admitted?
A: Yes, the CSUN MSA program uses the popular cohort model.
Cohorts are small groups of students (usually less than 35) that move through
the program together in a predetermined sequence from the start of the program
through fulfillment of the degree requirements and graduation. Because you’ll
be working with the same cohort for every class, you'll find communicating with
faculty and other students in your group much easier. Cohorts provide peer
support for questions you may have about important points in a lecture or
advice on the best way to complete assignments.
Cohorted-students will complete three classes
per semester. Enrollment is guaranteed for every class, and the class schedule
is set for the entire program. In comparison with other programs composed of part-time
students, the cohort model increases retention and graduation rates among
working adults.
New cohorts will be admitted each
fall. Resources permitting, we hope to increase the number of cohorts running
simultaneously to two by Fall 2013.
Q: What is the planned schedule of
course offerings?
A:
The MSA is designed to be completed
in one calendar year. Courses are offered Tuesday/Thursday nights
according to the following
schedule (Table 1) in a mix of traditional and hybrid formats. Workload
for the culminating experience is spread over fall, winter, and spring
semesters. Students receive an orientation to the culminating
experience (ACCT698C
or ACCT698D) in the Fall Semester, begin the
discovery process, and prepare a workplan before the end of the
semester. The orientation and research component of the culminating
experience are coordinated through ACCT 611 and ACCT 615. Over the
5-week winter intercession, students continue to make progress on their
projects. In spring, students register for either ACCT698C or ACCT698D
Table 1 Course Offering Plan
|
Fall |
Units |
|
ACCT
611Ethics & Communications for Accounting Professionals |
3 |
|
ACCT
615 Contemporary Issues in Accounting |
3 |
|
IS
630 Accounting Information Systems |
3 |
|
Fall
Total |
9 |
|
Spring |
|
|
ACCT
624 Advanced Auditing Seminar |
3 |
|
ACCT
628 Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation |
3 |
|
ACCT
698C Graduate Thesis or ACCT
698D Graduate Project |
3 |
|
IS 656 Information Systems Audit and Control |
3 |
|
Spring
Total |
12 |
|
Summer |
|
|
ACCT 626
Managerial Cost Accounting Seminar |
3 |
|
ACCT 632 Accounting Issues in Select Industries (Entertainment Industry) |
3 |
|
IS 657 IS Governance and Risk Management |
3 |
|
Summer
Total |
9 |
|
Program
Total |
30 |
Q:
How much will the tuition and fees be for the MSA
program?
A: Under California Executive Order
1054, graduates students in state-supported professional business programs in
AACSB-accredited schools are required to pay a Graduate Business Professional
Fee (GBPF). This fee is in addition to the State University Fee, campus fees
and non-resident tuition (if applicable). The GBPF for Fall
2012 is $278 per unit. Assuming nine units per semester and no further CSU fee
increases, the total cost per unit will be approximately $698. Using this
figure for calculation purposes, the total tuition and fees for the MSA program
is approximately $20,898. See Tables 1 and 2 in the appendix
for more details, including an estimated tuition/fee structure for Fall 2012.
Q:
Is there any special financial aid available for the MSA?
A: There are a limited number of awards available for graduate students. All MSA applicants are automatically considered for the available incoming MSA students scholarships. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic performance (e.g., overall GPA, GMAT scores, etc). Scholarship winners must be admitted to the MSA program and enrolled in classes for fall in order to receive their awards. Winners will be announced after the application deadline.
To apply for financial assistance in the form
of state or federal grants or loans, contact the Financial Aid Office (http://www.csun.edu/finaid/). Pay particular attention to FAFSA and Cal Grant filing deadlines. Teaching and Graduate
Assistantships, as well as Student Fellowship Opportunities, may be available.
Inquiries should be directed to MSA Program Director.
Q:
If I have not met all the MSA program prerequisites, can I take them at CSUN?
A: The CSUN MSA program is primarily
targeted to those who have completed an undergraduate degree in accounting. If
you majored in a discipline other than accounting, you will need to take
prerequisite coursework to qualify for admission. MSA Program admission
requirements are listed above in the PREREQUISITES
section of this program description.
Because the CSUN B.S. in Accountancy
program is classified as "impacted' by the CSU system, we currently do not have the faculty resources to
provide the accounting prerequisite coursework for the MSA. Until the resource
picture changes, we recommend applicants with non-accounting undergraduate
degrees take the prerequisite coursework at any local accredited college or university.
Many take their prerequisite coursework at UCLA Extension or DeVry University. If you do take extension courses, be sure
you enroll for credit.
Q:
Couldn’t I take the program prerequisites by enrolling in CSUN as an
Unclassified Post Baccalaureate student?
A:
California State
University, Northridge, is not
currently accepting applications for Unclassified Post Baccalaureate students
(applicants who wish to enroll in graduate courses for professional and
personal growth).
Q:
What if I enroll as a non-matriculated student through CSUN’s Tseng College of
Extended Learning Open University? Is
that an option for taking the necessary prerequisites courses?
A:
While it is true
non-matriculated students (i.e., those who have not been admitted to a degree
program) can enroll in state-supported university offerings at CSUN through the
Open University, course admission is on a space-available, instructor-approval
basis. Registration requires a permission number for any empty seat. For the
Accounting and Information Systems Department, the department chair oversees
issuance of permission numbers for all upper-division undergraduate accounting
courses.
As mentioned earlier, because the CSUN
B.S. in Accountancy program is classified as "impacted' by the CSU
Chancellor, there are insufficient spaces for matriculated pre-accountancy
undergraduate majors wishing to take upper-division accounting courses. The
priority of matriculated students over non-matriculated students means that at
this time, Open University students will not
be able to take 300- or 400-level accounting courses. Until the resource
picture changes, we recommend non-matriculated students take their prerequisite
coursework at any local accredited college or university.
Q: How do I apply for admission to the
MSA?
A: All applicants must complete Steps 1
- 3 below. Non-CSUN B.S. Accountancy majors must also complete step 4.
1.
CSU Graduate
Application.
Complete the online CSU system-wide application for admission as a graduate student.
The web address is: http://www.csumentor.edu/
a.
Under
Major/Program objective, select Business
Administration - Accountancy - MS from the drop down menu. Be sure to
include the $55 application fee.
2.
Transcripts. Have official
transcripts from all institutions attended mailed to the CSUN Office of
Admission and Records:
California State University,
Northridge
Admissions and Records
18111 Nordhoff
Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8207
3.
MSA Application. Complete the online
supplemental application for the COBAE Office of Graduate Programs. The web
address is:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MSA_Supplemental_Application
4.
GMAT Scores. For CSUN students/graduates from
other programs and graduates from other institutions, one additional step is
required: Submission of official copies of Graduate Management Admission Test
(GMAT) scores to the COBAE Office of Graduate Programs using CSUN’s Graduate
Program C.E.E.B. code PVC-C4-19. Applicants wishing more information on the
GMAT, should visit the GMAT website at http://www.mba.com
Applications will be initially
screened by CSUN Admissions and Records. Once you have met the university
graduate admissions requirements, your application materials will be forwarding
to the COBAE Office of Graduate Programs and the Accounting and Information
Systems Department Graduate Admissions Committee for evaluation.
Q:
When is the admission deadline?
A: The MSA is a fall-only program. Applications will be accepted starting October 1, 2012 for the cohort beginning Fall 2013. The
admission deadline is May 1, 2013. Applications are reviewed as
submitted with admission on a rolling basis until the cohort is filled.
Early application is encouraged.
Q:
Do I need to take and pass the Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE)
?
A: Yes, the Trustees of the California State
University have directed that "all students entering the CSU System... be
required to demonstrate their proficiency with regard to writing skills as a
requirement for graduation." This includes graduate students. To be
eligible for “classified” status as a graduate student, students must complete
the WPE with a passing score (8 or higher). (Classified graduate students are
those who have met all criteria for classification in their respective
programs.) CSUN students who have passed the WPE
previously as an undergraduate, do not need to retake the exam.
Graduate students provisionally
admitted to the program as “conditionally classified” must satisfy the Writing
Proficiency requirement during the first semester of residency. (A
conditionally classified graduate student has been accepted into a degree
program but has not yet met all classification criteria.) Refer to the Upper
Division Writing Test Home Page for more details:
http://www.csun.edu/testing/upper/
Q:
What is the approximate minimum GMAT score that I need to be accepted to the
program?
A: Your GMAT score must be
in 50th percentile or higher to be admitted to the MSA program. Your
percentile rank indicates
the percentage of examinees that scored below you based on the scores of the entire
GMAT testing population for the most recent three-year period. Your percentile
rank may change from year to year. A GMAT score between 570 and 590 would rank
you in the 50th percentile or above.
###
File: MSA Handout 08.30.12